HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content

DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE
If you’re seeking to determine a value for your practice for an impending sale or partnership or are considering improvements to the operation and efficiency of your business, a new resource on ADA.org can help.

In February, the Association’s annual Directory of Dental Practice Appraisers and Brokers and its Directory of Dental Practice Management Consultants went online in fully searchable formats.

The appraisers and brokers directory identifies individuals and companies involved in dental practice evaluation and transition. It includes information about their training, experience, methods and services offered, as supplied by the appraisers and brokers themselves.

The management consultants directory lists individuals and companies offering practice management services such as personnel training, bookkeeping analysis, office planning and space utilization, and productivity and efficiency analysis.

Each database is searchable by region, state/province or business characteristic. It also can list all the vendors that appear in the directory.

ADA members can search the directories free of charge by visiting "www.ada.org/prof/prac/tools/directories.asp". You will be required to log in to access this member-only benefit using your ADA member number and ADA.org password.

Please note that the ADA Council on Dental Practice does not endorse the individuals or companies listed in the directories and has not reviewed or verified the information contained in individual listings.

SECURITY REPORT CARD
"Good news" and "bad news" are relative terms.

In a statement released in tandem with results from an annual, independently evaluated "report card" of federal computer security, Government Reform Committee chairman Tom Davis (R-Va.) said, "The good news is, the grade for government agencies overall rose 2.5 points [in 2004]."

The bad news is the overall grade was a lackluster D+.

Each year since the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 was signed into law, the computer systems and information security practices of 24 federal agencies have been evaluated to determine how the government is faring in meeting computer security goals.

In 2004, seven agencies received failing grades on their report cards, including the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs. Rep. Davis noted several areas throughout the federal network that need improvement, including annual review of contractor systems, testing of contingency plans, configuration management, incident reporting and specialized training for employees with significant security responsibilities.

"Several agencies continue to receive failing grades, and that’s unacceptable," said Rep. Davis. "The committee will continue to explore reasons these agencies continue to underperform; after all, the ‘goal posts’ have not moved significantly over the past several years."

However, there were a couple of bright spots on the report card: the Agency for International Development rated an A+, as compared with a C– in 2003, and the Department of Transportation improved from a D+ in 2003 to an A– last year.

Reported by Joe Hoyle, electronic media editor, "hoylej{at}ada.org".

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content